Preps / High School Sports

Farmers junior Ann Marie Torres smiles broadly but carries big stick

Ann Marie Torres (center), a junior at Wheat Ridge High School, jokes with teammates during practice. Ann Marie Torres was photographed at Chautauqua on Thursday, August 14, 2014. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

WHEAT RIDGE — Don't let Ann Marie Torres' smile fool you. Behind her toothy grin is a young woman with a killer instinct on the diamond.

The 5-foot-8 junior shortstop is a big-time power hitter. As a sophomore, she led the state in home runs (13) and helped the Wheat Ridge Farmers win their fourth state softball title by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the 4A championship game.

Big accomplishments, sure, but the 16-year-old is looking for more.

"I really can't think about what happened last year because I just think about what's best for my team this year," Torres said. "And what I need to do this year is get better."

An improved version of Torres would be great news for Wheat Ridge but terrifying for opponents. Her numbers last fall were among the best in the state: a .634 batting average, 15 doubles and a staggering 1.279 slugging percentage.

"The power is obviously there. You see it in quite a few girls, but she's got that special power," said Pablo Severtson, Torres' club coach with the Colorado Styxx. "The ball just sounds different coming off of her bat."

Her strengths aren't just limited to offense. A slick fielder, particularly at her natural position at third base, Torres has been filling the need at shortstop for Wheat Ridge.

"In practice I try to hit balls past her, but I have to hit them foul to get past her," Farmers coach Marty Stricklett said about her play at third. "Yeah, she's got some reaction time."

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With no clear No. 1 pitcher at Wheat Ridge this fall, Torres is slated to do some spot starting, though she hasn't been on the mound in more than a year.

"She wants to strive for perfection and she hasn't met that yet, so she's always putting in the extra work to get there," Stricklett said. "Her strength is her mental game."

Torres lives by a tenacious work ethic combined with a hunger to improve.

"In order to succeed you have to work hard on everything," she said.

Ann Marie Torres, a junior at Wheat Ridge High School, poses for a portrait during practice. Ann Marie Torres was photographed at Chautauqua on Thursday, August 14, 2014. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

"Sky's the limit for her," Severtson said. "She's got a passion for the game, and I think that with her talent, where she's at right now and the ability to get better, she's going to be a Division I player, no doubt about that."

Torres is already drawing interest from several schools, including Colorado State, Northern Colorado and Villanova. But she said she dreams of playing for Arizona.

But with college still two years away, there is plenty of time for her to keep getting better.

"If I had to coach against her, I don't know if I'd pitch to her," Stricklett said. "I'd throw everything in the dirt and hope she swings."

Rockies are on pace to lose 93 games this seasonThe Rockies lost three of four in St. Louis and are on pace to lose 93 games as they come home for a three-game series with Seattle before going back on the road again to face Washington.